Dow University student holds administration accountable for rain mismanagement

A student of Dow Medical College in Karachi has come forward to recount the harrowing ordeal faced by hundreds of students after the institution failed to suspend classes or clinical ward postings on August 19, when torrential rains brought the city to a standstill.

Speaking on behalf of her fellow students, Zoya described how the university administration left them without support during the emergency, forcing many to remain stranded on the roads until midnight.

In a post shared on Instagram, she said that despite severe urban flooding, the university continued its routine schedule. Students leaving in university buses were caught in dangerous conditions, turning the commute into a life-threatening experience for many.

According to her, the already dilapidated buses began leaking during the relentless downpour, while waterlogged streets made travel nearly impossible. She said students were left without food, water, or safe shelter as the university failed to intervene or arrange emergency assistance.

“Female students were left in dangerous conditions,” Zoya said, adding that a father lost his life while trying to rescue his daughter after university transport failed to bring her home.

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She further alleged that despite worsening flooding, the administration insisted on continuing classes and clinical duties, while libraries were locked and students had nowhere to turn for safety.

Holding the administration responsible for its grave disregard for student safety, Zoya said the situation could have been avoided had the university either kept the campus open as a temporary shelter or announced closures earlier in the day.

She noted that some students remained stranded on the roads until as late as 4:30 am, while the university failed to coordinate any support or establish an emergency communication system.

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Calling the situation “gross negligence,” she demanded an investigation into the administration’s handling of the crisis and urged authorities to conduct an emergency safety audit of the university’s infrastructure and transport system.